Garment form retainers



1966 Y. SHERBONDY 3,283,969

GARMENT FORM RETAINERS Filed June 8, 1965 I04 FIG 6 Frank Y. Sherbondy uiNT R BY W4 ATTCRNEY United States Patent 3,283,969 GARMENT FORM RETAINERS Frank Y. Sherbondy, R0. Box 10236, San Antonio, Tex. Filed .lune 8, 1965, Ser. No. 462,289 5 Claims. (Cl. 223-71) This invention relates to garment form retaining devices for use with garments having overlapping front panels. More particularly, this invention is an improvement upon the garment form retaining devices which are the subject of my United States Patents Nos. 2,641,390, issued June 9, 1953, 2,975,948, issued March 21, 1963, 3,091,376, issued May 28, 1963, and 3,143,260, issued August 4, 1964.

Garment form retaining devices of the type presented in the above cited patents are adapted to hold the front panels of the coat, or the like, in a position where the panels are in overlapping relation when the coat is placed on a hanger so as to prevent sagging and deformation of the coating. Such garment form retaining devices comprise an elongated flat body for insertion between the overlapping front portions of 'the garment, and carry thereon (a) means in a form of a tab or the like for cou pling the devices with a button hole on one front portion of the garment, and (b) means in the form of slotted openings or the like for coupling the device with a button on the other front portion of the garment.

In the first two of my aforesaid patents, the button retaining means comprises an elongated longitudinally extending slit having an enlarged opening to facilitate passing thebutton through the body of the retainer device. Such an arrangement, while satisfactory in use requires substantial material in the manufacture of the same due to its elongated character thereby increasing the costs of fabricating, shipping and handling the same. The latter two of my aforesaid patents show an alternate or modified form of button retaining means which comprises a circular aperture and a series of radial slits extending from the aperture and equally spaced from each other around the aperture. This arrangement, while also proving satisfactory in use is somewhat more diflicult when inserting the button and allows for no adjustment in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the retainer device to accommodate particular garments. Further, the relatively small integral connections between adjacent slits are subject to tearing from the body.

The aforesaid patents also include various forms of button hole retaining means the advantages and disadvantages of which are pointed out in my last mentioned Patent No. 3,143,260. Generally, however, each of these button hole retaining means allows little or no adjustment in a direction extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the retainer device, and further, each of the means in my prior patents has the integral connection between the button hole retaining tab or flap generally offset with regard to a longitudinal axis through the center of the button-retaining means of the same. Such an arrangement may have a tendency to twist the garment retained thereby.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide a garment form retaining device including an elongated body portion having an improved button hole retaining means and an improved button retaining means thereon, the relationship between these means also providing better and smoother maintenance of the garment.

More specifically, with regard to the button retaining means, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide in a garment form retaining device which comprises an elongated relatively stiff, but flexible body, an improved double flap construction integrally connected 3 ,283,969 Patented Nov. 8, 1965 with the body but capable of bending outwardly therefrom to allow insertion of a button, the double flap construction lying flat beneath the button after attachment and securing engaging the thread shank carrying the button. Further, and even more particularly, it is an important object of this invention to provide such a construction wherein the flaps are integrally secured to the body by a relatively large connection to preclude tearing of the same. Moreover, in this regard, the double flap construction is preferably arranged with the two flaps meeting to form a slit which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body of the device whereby, if desired, adjustment in the direction of the slit may be provided.

Still further, yet other more specific objects of the present invention include: (a) the provision of a garment form retaining device comprising an elongated body of yieldable material having a button hole retaining tab which extends upwardly with respect to its connection with the body, rather than downwardly as prior art devices have done, this preferred arrangement being found to provide an improved engagement in the button hole; (1;) the provision of such a garment form retainer wherein the button hole engaging tab is formed of an arcuate element having a maximum dimension slightly larger than its connection to the body of the retainer device and also slightly larger than the button hole with which it is to be used, this construction providing for quick engagement with the button hole and secure attachment thereto; (c) the provision of a garment form retainer of the type described wherein the axis of the button hole t-ab connection is substantially aligned with one end of the elongated slit defined by the button retaining means whereby smooth and accurate support for the overlapping portions of the garment may be readily provided; (d) the provision of an improved garment form retainer in which either the button retaining means or the button hole retaining means or both may include elongated slits extending substantially perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body of the device to permit adjustment along this direction, as necessitated by a particular garment; and (e) the provision of a garment form retainer device which can be formed from inexpensive materials, such as heavy stiff paper and/or cardboard, flexible plastic materials, or the like and which can be manufactured quite easily so as to be available at low cost for widespread commercial use, the particular construction preferred utilizing less material and being lighter in Weight than prior art devices commercially in use.

This invention lies in the construction, combination and arrangement of the garment form retainer devices which are preferably provided in a sing-1e blank of material. The invention will be better understood, and objects other than those specifically set forth above will become apparent, when consideration is given to the following detailed description of the illustrative and preferred embodiments presented in the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a garment having operatively positioned thereon a garment form retainer constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the preferred form of garment form retainer device according to this invention; and

FIGURES 36 are fragmentary detailed eilevational views showing modified forms of button hole retaining tabs which may be utilized in accordance with the instant inventive concept.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

For purposes of simplicity, reference is first made to FIGURE 2 presenting the preferred garment form retainer provided by the present invention. In such figure, the retainer is generally designated by the numeral 18 and will be seen to comprise basically an elongated fiat, generally rectangular, body 12 of yieildable, relatively stiff, material such as cardboard, flexible plastic or the like. The body 12 is out along the line 14 to provide a button hole retaining tab designated generally by the reference numerals 16, the tab 16 being integrally conne-cted to the body 12 along the dotted line 18 which may be scored, if desired, to facilitate swinging the tab 16 away from the body 12 for insertion into a button hole. It will be seen that in this preferred embodiment the tab 16 is in the form of an arcuate element extending from opposite sides of the tab connection .18 and having a portion defining a maximum dimension which exceeds the width of the tab connection 18 and also which exceeds the width of the button hole with which the tab 16 is to be utilized. The -lower ends of the tab 16, that is, the portions of the tab 16 below the maximum dimension taper inwardly toward the tab connection 18 and act to secure the tab 16 within the button hole. Reference to FIGURE 2 will also show that in this preferred embodiment the tab 16 extends upwardly from the tab connection 18, a relationship which has been found to provide more secure engagement in the button hole in use.

The body 12 of the garment form retainer 18 is also provided with a button retaining means designated generally by the reference numeral 29, this means being spaced longitudinally from the button hole retaining tab 16 and from the ends of the body 12. If desired, a plurafl-ity of button retaining means (not shown) may be .provided in the body .12, spaced [longitudinally firom each other to accommodate garments of different sizes. The butt-on retaining means 20 comprises a pair of opposed flaps 22, 24 formed by cutting the body 12 along the lines 26,28, respectively. As with the tab 16, the flaps 22, 24- are integrally formed with the body 12 along the flap connections shown in dotted lines at 30, 32 which may be scored to facilitate swinging the flaps 22, 24 away from the body 12. The flaps 22, 24 have edge portions 34, 36 spaced from their flap connections 30, 32 and juxtaposed to together define an elongated slit 38, the slit 38 and the flap connections 30, 32 each extending substantialiy perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 48 of the body 12. In this manner, adjustment along the slit 38 may be provided to secure a particular garment in its optimum relationship.

The manner in which the embodiment 10 of FIGURE 2 is applied to a garment is illustrated in FIGURE 1 wherein a typical suit coat 58 is shown having overlapping front portions 52 and 54. Button holes 56, -6 are disposed adjacent to longitudinal edge 58 of portion 54 and buttons 60, 68 are attached to portion 52 adjacent to longitudinal edge 62 by any suitable well known means such as thread or the like. Buttons 68, 68 cooperate with button holes 56, 56 respectively to secure the garment on an individual in a well known manner.

When the garment form retainer 18 is used, the buttons and button holes do not cooperate with each other, but instead cooperate with the retainer. More specifically, when a garment has been pressed, and it is desired to place the same on a hanger and maintain the overlapping front portions in a position shown in FIGURE 1, then the retainer is inserted under the portion 54 and over the portion 52. The tab 16 of the retainer, having been bent outwardly from the body 12, is passed through the button hole 56, the tab being flexed slightly in order that the maximum dimension may pass through the button hole. Next, the button 60 is passed through the opening defined by pressing the flaps 22, 24 away from the body 12 of the retainer 10. Preferably, the button .is passed sideways through the slit 38 and then the opposite flap is pressed around and under the button so that the button overlies the opening with the thread shank being engaged by the edge portion 34, 36 of the flaps.

In the preferred relationship as shown in FIGURE 2 the tab connection 18 is aligned with the lower end of the slit 38 in order that the garment may be evenly supported by the device 18. If, as may become necessary with certain garments, it is desired to adjust the relative position between the button and button hole to insure a smooth hanging of the garment, the thread shank may be s-lid upwardly along the length of the slit 38. However, in most instances the garment may be readily and properly positioned merely by pressing the thread shank to the bottom of the slit wherein it is immediately aligned with the button hole supported by the flap connection 18.

Of course, removal of the device 16 may be readily accomplished in an obvious manner. Further, it will be appreciated that cut-ting of the body 12 so as to provide the tab 16 and the flaps 22, '24 can be achieved by utilizing a suitable knife die which is lowered under :pressure onto a blank or sheet of blank material.

Referring now to FIGURE 3 a portion of a garment form retainer is designated generally by the reference numeral 70 and will be seen to have a somewhat modilied button hole retaining means in the form of a tab 72 defined by a cut 74 in the body 76 of the device. The tab '72 comprises an arcuate upper portion and a pair of generally rounded wings 78, 80 which connect the arcuate portion to the sides of the tab connection 82. In this instance the wings 78, 80 extend outwardly from the tab connection 82 and at lleast a major portion of the Wings extend below the tab connection 82 whereas the arcuate portion of the tab 72 extends above the tab connection 82. Thus, on use, the wings 78, 80 will function to further secure the tab 72 in position by extending over the bottom of the button hole while the arcuate portion extends over the top of the button hole. The embodiment of FIGURE 3 has the tab connection 82 substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis 84 of the body 76. It is to be understood that this form of tab may be utilized with a button-retaining means such as shown at 20 in the embodiment of FIGURE 2 in which case the tab connection 82. would be aligned substantially centrally of the slit 38 thereby allowing adjustment of the button retaining means either upwardly or downwardly from the central position. 7

Yet another embodiment of garment form retainer is designated generally by the reference numeral in FIGURE 4 wherein the body 92 is cut as at 94 to define a tab 96 which is elongated and hingedly secured to the body 92 by an integral tab connection 98. The tab 96 extends downwardly from the tab connection 98 in a manner similar to certain of my earlier patents and the tab connection 98 may be perforated in the manner of my patent No. 2,975,948 to permit adjustment for various size button holes. In this embodiment the tab connection 98 may be substantially aligned with the top of the slit of the button retaining means, presuming a means such as shown at 20 in FIGURE 2 is utilized.

A still further modified form of retainer device is shown generally at 168 in FIGURE 5 as having a tab 102 out from the body 104 with an arcuate lower portion and a pair of wings 186, 108, at least the major portion of which extend above the tab connection '110 to function in a manner similar to the wings 78, St] of the embodiment of FIGURE 3.

Finally, in FIGURE 6 a garment form retainer is shown at as having a tab 122 with an arcuate lower portion and a pair of wings 124, 126. In this embodiment the tab connection 128 is defined by a pair of elongated slits 138, 132 extending in spaced parallel relation to each other on opposite sides of the tab 122 and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 134 of the body 136 of the device 120. This somewhat enlarged form of tab connection permits free movement or adjustment Within the button hole to preclude twisting of the garment on its hanger.

It will be understood that although each of the modified forms of button hole retaining means shown in the various embodiments may be used with other forms of button retaining means, it is preferred in each instance to use the same in conjunction with the double flap arrangement shown in FIGURE 2 for optimum advantage.

Thus, it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved garment form retainer which satisfies all of the objects of the instant invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Accordingly, what is claimed is:

1. A form retainer for a coat garment, said garment having overlapping front portions with at least one button hole on one portion and at least one button on the other portion, said retainer comprising an elongated flat body of yieldable material for insertion between the overlapping front portions of the garment, said body having a button hole retaining means spaced longitudinally from the ends of said body, said button hole retaining means comprising a tab coupled to said body by a tab connection integral with said tab and said body, said tab being swingable away from said body about an axis defined by said tab connection, said tab connection extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body, said body further having at least one button retaining means spaced longitudinally from said tab and from the ends of said body, each of said button retaining means comprising a pair of opposed flaps each coupled to said body by a flap connection integral with said body and said flap, each of said flaps being swingable away from said body about an axis defined by its flap connection and having an edge portion spaced from said flap connection, said edge portions of said flaps being juxtaposed and together defining an elongated slit, said flap connections and said slit each extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body and additional slits extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body and connecting the upper and lower extremities of said edge portions of each of said flaps with the upper and lower extremities of their respective flap connections.

2. A garment form retainer as defined in claim 1 wherein said body has a lower end and an upper end in use, said tab extending toward said upper end from said tab connection.

3. A garment form retainer as defined in claim 1 wherein said tab comprises an arcuate element extending from opposite sides of said tab connection, said arcuate element having a portion defining a maximum dimension extending substantially parallel to said tab connection and exceeding the width of said tab connection and the button hole with Which said tab is to be used, the portions of said arcuate element adjacent the sides of said tab connection tapering inwardly toward said tab connection from said portion defining said maximum dimension.

4. A garment form retainer as defined in claim 1 wherein said tab comprises an arcuate portion and a pair of generally rounded wings connecting said arcuate portion to the sides of said tab connection, said Wings extending outwardly from said tab connection and a major portion of said wings extending on the opposite side of said tab connection from said arcuate portion of said tab.

5. A garment form retainer as defined in claim 1 wherein said tab connection is defined by a pair of elongated slits extending in spaced parallel relation to each other on opposite sides of said tab and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,563,043 8/1951 Kahn 22371 2,642,210 6/1953 Lang 223-71 3,040,940 6/ 1962 Richardson 22371 3,091,376 5/1963 Sherbondy 223--71 3,098,590 7/1963 Richardson 22371 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FORM RETAINER FOR A COAT GARMENT, SAID GARMENT HAVING OVERLAPPING FRONT PORTIONS WITH AT LEAST ONE BUTTON HOLE ON ONE PORTION AND AT LEAST ONE BUTTON ON THE OTHER PORTION, SAID RETAINER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED FLAT BODY OF YIELDABLE MATERIAL FOR INSERTION BETWEEN THE OVERLAPPING FRONT PORTIONS OF THE GARMENT, SAID BODY HAVING A BUTTON HOLE RETAINING MEANS SPACED LONGITUDINALLY FROM THE ENDS OF SAID BODY, SAID BUTTON HOLE RETAINING MEANS COMPRISING A TAB COUPLED TO SAID BODY BY A TAB CONNECTION INTEGRAL WITH SAID TAB AND SAID BODY, SAID TAB BEING SWINGABLE AWAY FROM SAID BODY ABOUT AN AXIS DEFINED BY SAID TAB CONNECTION, SAID TAB CONNECTION EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID BODY, SAID BODY FURTHER HAVING AT LEAST ONE BUTTON RETAINING MEANS SPACED LONGITUDINALLY FORM SAID TAB AND FROM THE ENDS OF SAID BODY, EACH OF SAID BUTTON RETAINING MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF OPPOSED FLAPS EACH COUPLED TO SAID BODY BY A FLAP CONNECTION INTEGRAL WITH SAID BODY AND SAID FLAP, EACH OF SAID FLAPS BEING SWINGABLE AWAY FROM SAID BODY ABOUT AN AXIS DEFINED BY ITS FLAP CONNECTION AND HAVING AN EDGE PORTION SPACED FROM SAID FLAP CONNECTION, SAID EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID FLAPS BEING JUXTAPOSED AND TOGETHER DEFINING AN ELONGATED SLIT, SAID FLAP CONNECTIONS AND SAID SLIT EACH EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID BODY AND ADDITIONAL SLITS EXTENDING SUBSTANTILLY PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS TO SAID BODY AND CONNECTING THE UPPER AND LOWER EXTREMITIES OF SAID EDGE PORTIONS OF EACH OF SAID FLAPS WITH THE UPPER AND LOWER EXTREMITIES OF THEIR RESPECTIVE FLAP CONNECTIONS. 